Numbers 15

Numbers 15:1-21

God had spared them at Moses’ request, and in the opening of this chapter, intimates his fixed purpose of bringing them into the land of Canaan, which even all their rebellions shall not prevail. He here precludes the offerings hereafter to be made at his altar, as the sacrifices had been enjoined before.

1. Meat-offerings and drink-offerings must accompany every sacrifice: for a lamb, about three quarts of flour, a quart and half a pint of oil, and the like quantity of wine; and for the larger fealty, proportionably, v. 6—10. As the priests provision was to ride from the altar, they had thus a table fortified richly. Note, They who minister before the Lord, deserve a liberal maintenance.

2. In the things of God, there was to be no difference between an Israelite and a stranger; hereby they were invited to communion with God’s altar, and an intimation given, that not the seed of Abraham’s loins, so much as the children of his faith, were accepted of God. In Christ Jesus there is no difference of nation, sex, or person: all who come to him, shall be in no wise call out: every partition-wall is now thrown down, and whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely.

3. Though now they were fed with manna, God intended to give them by and by the corn of Canaan; and they are commanded to offer, from the first corn which was threshed and ground, a portion of dough, as an acknowledgment of God’s right, in all they enjoyed, and this was appropriated for the use of the priest’s family. Our daily bread in God’s gift, and we may then expect, when we break a portion of it to the hungry, that his blessing will be on the remainder.

4. ¶ And if ye have erred, and not observed all the commandments which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses, 23. Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations: 24. Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance, without the knowledge of the congregation; that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for a sweet favour unto the LORD, with his meat-offering, and his drink-offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering. 25. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin-offering before the LORD for their ignorance. 26. And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; being all the people serve in ignorance. 27. ¶ And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin-offering. 28. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that fineth ignorantly, when he fineth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. 29. You shall have one law for him that fineth through ignorance, both for him that is born amongst the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

Numbers 15:14

In this chapter instructions are given about the sacrifices and obituations. 1. The law concerning the meat-offerings and drink-offerings, ver. 1—12. both for Israelites and for strangers, ver. 1—10. and a law concerning the heave-offerings of the fight of their dough, ver. 17—21. 2. The law concerning sacrifices for sins of ignorance, ver. 22—29. 3. The punishment of prejudications, see, ver. 30, 31. and an instance given in the Sabbath-breaker, ver. 32—36. 4. A law concerning fringes, for memorandums upon the borders of their garments, ver. 37—41.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, 3. And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt-offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a free-will offering, or in your solemn fealty, to make a sweet favour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock. 4. Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD, bring a meat-offering of a tenth-deal of flour, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil. 5. And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink-offering shall then prepare, with the burnt-offering, or sacrifice, for one lamb. 6. Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat-offering, two tenth-deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil. 7. And for a drink-offering, thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet favour unto the LORD. 8. And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt-offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace-offerings unto the LORD: 9. Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat-offering of three tenth-deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil. 10. And thou shalt bring for a drink-offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire of a sweet favour unto the LORD. 11. Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid. 12. According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one, according to their number. 13. All that are born of the country, shall do thee things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire of a sweet favour unto the LORD. 14. And if a stranger, sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire of a sweet favour unto the LORD: as ye do, so be shall do. 15. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth unto you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. 16. One law, and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger. Vol. I.

ger that sojourneth with you. 17. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 18. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you, 19. Then it shall be, that when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave-offering unto the LORD. 20. Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough, for an heave-offering: as ye do the heave-offering of the threshing flour, so shall ye heave it. 21. Of the first of your dough, ye shall give unto the LORD, an heave-offering in your generations.

Numbers 15:22-29

We have the sacrifices for sins of ignorance, 1. Of the whole congregation; this was more largely treated before, Lev. iv. 12 only a kid for a sin-offering is here added. 2. Of a private person. Sin must be anened for, or it would destroy us. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, not only from those which we feel and lament, but those that through our blindness we cannot see. Indeed, who can understand all his errors: Lord, cleanse thou me from my secret faults.

30. ¶ But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously (whether he be born in the land, or a stranger) the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31. Because he hath def.

S f pised Before Christ 1st 1st Lev. iv. 14a v. 14b. 16, 16. 16th. Dech. Għap. XVI. Before Christ said. 9. Eend. said. 2, 3. 9. Lev. xxii. sa. 9. Eend. xxii. sa.

9. 30-36. Though fins of ignorance admitted of facilities, presumptuous fins were excluded from the knocks of them.

10. The nature and punishment of presumptuous fin. It is not every fin, which is the presumptuous fin; we may transgress against our better knowledge, or the remonstrances of our conscience; yet without that insistent contempt and defiance of God, which constitutes the character of the presumptuous finner. Every fin is deeply dangerous, but when a hardened heart denies God’s truth, quarrels with God’s justice, marks at God’s threatenings, rejects his government, and calls off his fear, then the state is desperate indeed, and punishment certain and dreadful ensues. As there remains no lacedies for such finners, the wrath of God must for ever abide upon them. Who need not hear and fear, and pray, keep thy servant from presumptuous fins?

11. A presumptuous fabbath-breaker is detected, and suffers. He was, in contempt of the Divine authority, gathering sticks to light a fire, which God had expressly forbid. He is brought before the rulers, and as the calc was without precedent, is put in ward, till God determines what death he should die: his sentence is pronounced, and in consequence of it, he is stoned. Not, Wilful profanation of God’s fabbath is a great crime; if magistrates are sack to punish it, God is a jealous God, and will in no wise spare the guilty.

12. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 38. Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments, throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue. 39. And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them: and that ye seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40. That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.

37-41. The Jews were God’s peculiar people; their very dress and be different from the nations around them. God orders them to wear fringes at the four corners of their garments, not to much for ornament as use, to remind them continually, which ever way they looked, of the obligation they were under to obey God’s commandment. Nate, (1.) When the manners of the world in dress are extravagant, or indecent, it becomes the people of God to be singular. (2.) Our chaths, instead of smirling to pride, should ever awaken our thankfulness, and lead us to God.

The conclusion of the chapter furnishes the stronger argument for their exact obedience and conformity to every injunction. Nate, When God is our God, we shall not only count all his commandments right and good; but obedience to them will be as much our delight as our duty: